If not a lovingly crafted homage to Alice Cooper, then at the very least,
Wednesday 13's '
Fang Bang' is a slickly constructed album of mascara smeared glam rock, cleverly dirtied down to give it additional streed cred by mixing desk maestro, Bob Marlette.
Many European bands like Hardcore Superstar,
Lovex and to an extent,
Wigwam have shoehorned their music into seventies' stack heels to varying degrees of success. But it seems they just can't do it like the Americans can. Particularly this one.
Wednesday 13 wipes the floor with all European pretenders plus every band on Perris and Kivel Records put together.
'
Fang Bang's got attitude and straight faced camp, but it's more than that. It's got spiralling guitars and bass heavy riffs, but it's more than that. What is has is this : great song writing and aurally adhesive tunes. Opening pair,
'Morgue Than Words' and '
American Werewolves' stand comparison to anything from the pen of Desmond Child, Michael Bruce or Bob Ezrin.
Occasionally it strays dangerously close to
Lordi styled cartoon rock, even down to the punny, cod macabre song titles (
Till Death Us Do Party,
Happily Ever Cadaver), but for the most part it holds its nerve and focuses its energies on amped up hard rock with driving verses and hooky choruses.
'
Kill You Before You Kill Me' and '
Faith In The Devil' are both a perfectly measured Cooper pastiche. Each a two to three minute parody of Cooper's glittery, riffed up rock, gilded with sublime pop hooks.
'
Curse Of Me' and '
Die Sci-Fi' too are a beautifully judged pop songs dressed in ragged edged, razor clawed, hard rock clothing.
Hopefully the Marlette connection will gain the band attention. The music will do the rest. One to watch.
Written by
Brian Wednesday, November 22, 2006
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